Cleavage of carbon–carbon bonds by radical reactions

In recent years, radical C-C bond cleavage reactions have been increasingly understood and used to perform transformations that complement traditional ionic processes. However, to date radical C-C bond cleavage/functionalization reactions have not been the subject of a dedicated review. Herein we summarize the most recent and significant developments in the radical activation and functionalization of carbon-carbon bonds, with an emphasis on both synthetic outcomes and reaction mechanisms, and highlight how these radical C-C bond cleavage reactions enable challenging transformations.